The city has passed a resolution authorizing the Bayonne Planning Board to investigate whether a parcel of land by the closed Pathmark supermarket off of Avenue A should be examined for a designation as an area in need of development.

That designation, if determined, could open up the plot of land for all types of city action including the declaration of eminent domain.

The resolution was passed by a 5-0 vote of the Bayonne City Council on July 16, the first regularly scheduled council meeting of the new administration in the Dorothy E. Harrington Council Chambers.

The meeting was attended by more residents than usual. Some of the meeting attendees were specifically interested in the city’s move.

Michael Ruscigno of the Bayonne Nature Club suggested the land be used as a waterfront park.

Kathleen Henderson, director, Bayonne Feral Cat Foundation, said that any building on the land fronting Newark Bay would be something she and others involved with cat preservation in the area would look at closely.

“Any development would be of concern to us,” she said.

Henderson said her group does trap-and-return projects, in an effort to curb the feline population in the area.

“These cats are very important to the community, and we wouldn’t want anything to happen to them,” she added.

City Clerk Robert Sloan said the interested parties should pay attention to future planning board meetings, where the issue will be discussed at length.

‘First step in process’

Council President Sharon Nadrowski reminded meeting attendees that the resolution is just the “first step in the process” of investigating possible uses for the site.

Former council candidate and longtime meeting attendee Leonard Kantor asked if a specific structure was being considered to be built at the site.

“We’re only authorizing the study,” Nadrowski said. “Bring up your points with the planning board.”

Making recommendations

The measure not only authorizes the study by the planning board, but also charges the board with making recommendations to the municipal council.

If it is deemed to be an area in need of development, then the planning board is also tasked with preparing a redevelopment plan for the study area, and submitting that to the council.

As part of its investigation, the planning board must also prepare maps showing the study area boundaries, and locations included in the studied area.